I Have a Dream Visitor Open Day May 2026

Each year, our Visitor Open Days give us the opportunity to share our collaboration with local kura and our dedication to our Dreamers with our donors and partners. As the day comes to a close, a positive energy ripples through the team, leaving us with a shared sense of pride in the impact we make for our young people and community.

The success of our first Visitor Open Day for 2026 at the I Have a Dream HQ and Tikipunga High School on Pink Shirt Day in May, is thanks to our Navigators, who dedicated weeks of hard mahi to showcase our programmes. Their pride in their work and their Dreamers shone through, leaving a lasting impression on all our guests.

The primary objectives of the day were to build a deeper understanding of our model and showcase our practice in action. To help visitors fully immerse themselves, they were given detailed guides outlining the experience. Guests were also encouraged to join in on the activities across four 30-minute rotations.

Our donors and supporters were welcomed with a mihi whakatau, followed by kai and whanaungatanga alongside a moving performance by the Tikipunga High School kapa haka group. Guided by Year 12 Navigator Te Aranga Hopa, the group performed one of Te Aranga’s own original compositions, beautifully setting a tone of pride for the day.

Visitors then split into groups and headed to the Dreamer Pods across the kura and HQ to experience our programmes firsthand.

Our younger Dreamers showcased their skills from the Mahi Maara programme, where they have been learning eco-agriculture skills from Soil of Cultures. They gave visitors the chance to try their hand at raranga, weaving Manu Tukutuku (kites) that they later tested outside. This POD also included a Mau Rākau lesson hosted by two Dreamers, who confidently walked visitors through fundamental tūwaewae (footwork) and traditional movements.

Nearby, Dwayne Tainui and two Year 9 and 10 Dreamers explained how to construct pallet planter boxes, a craft they have mastered through the Within Nature programme.

A senior group of Dreamers shared insights into the power of manifestation from their Bake the Life You Crave programme. This initiative is delivered by Lucia Kotze and Rose Welsh, inspired by a book Lucia published.

The final POD focused on the Pathways Programme. Three Year 14 participants returned to Tikipunga High School for the day, joining Pathways Navigator Bradee Taituha, Te Aranga, and Volunteering and Mentoring Programme Coordinator Reubena Milner. Together, they shared how this framework systematically guides Dreamers into tertiary education and employment during their senior years and beyond. To show the full journey, Year 0 to 2 Navigator Naomi Bromberg explained how the groundwork laid by junior Navigators feeds into this senior reality.

CEO Shane Gorst also shared his personal experience as a mentor, which inspired at least one visitor to sign up for the mentoring programme right after the event.

Throughout these rotations, visitors witnessed firsthand the unique synergy between our Dreamers, Navigators, and the kura.

Before the day concluded, Tikipunga High School Principal Emma Leyland joined our General Manager of Operations, Moana Matautia-Tepania, for an insightful Q&A session dubbed “Couch Talk.” The duo interviewed one another, sharing an honest kōrero about how the kura and I Have a Dream collaborate to maximize opportunities for the rangatahi in their care.

The genuine partnerships between our staff, the kura, and our Dreamers stood out in every aspect of the day, proving exactly what it takes to build a thriving ecosystem of youth support.

For those who weren’t able to attend this time, we will be holding another Visitor Open Day later in the year so you can experience our kaupapa firsthand. Stay tuned for upcoming dates and details.

A massive thank you to our staff who coordinated the seamless flow of the day, Tikipunga High School for hosting and providing such a welcoming atmosphere, and most importantly, our Dreamers, who continue to make us all so proud.

To the supporters and donors who attended: we truly appreciate you taking the time to join us, and we look forward to walking alongside you on this journey. The future is bright.